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Monday, April 17, 2017

He Gives More Grace

The other night I was watching a very popular reality TV show, when one of the players made a very bold hurtful statement. Everyone's jaw dropped, including my own!! I really could not believe what he had just proclaimed to millions of viewers watching around the country. I felt so bad for the person whom that statement was made towards. The look on his face was shock, disbelief, and hurt. Immediately, all of the of the other players started attacking the player who had made the hurtful statement. There were even tears from some of the other players. As the conversation ensued, you could see how the "accuser", we shall call him, started to realize the impact of his words. The victim, handled the situation with great humility and grace. However, not everyone else was as forgiving.

Has this sort of thing ever happened to you before? Maybe not this exact scenario, but probably something similar. I know it has happened to me plenty of times. I open my mouth and spew a bunch of stuff, without thinking of the impact the it might have on someone else. A lot of the players felt that he said those words to be hurtful, but I honestly think that he was just caught up in the moment and didn't realize the weight of his words.

I have to admit, as much as I felt bad for the victim, I felt even worse for the other guy. He is going to carry that guilt around for a long time, not to mention all of the hate mail and messages, I am sure he will receive from viewers. Now, don't misunderstand what I am saying, I don't think it was right what he said, for whatever reason, he definitely knew he screwed up and was genuinely apologetic. I am just pointing out that, saying you are sorry, is just as important as having to forgive someone.

Think about Jesus and what He did for us. He suffered great pain on the cross and had to experience separation from His father as He took our sins for us. His last words as He hung on that cross were, "It is finished". Think about what those words actually mean to us. God's plan had been fulfilled. A plan of redemption to rescue, in love, the very people whose sin had nailed Him to the cross.
He sent His only son to die on a cross and take on our sins so that we could be forgiven. We are now able to approach the Father because of what Jesus did for us. When God looks at us he doesn't see any sin, because Jesus intercedes for us. I don't know about you, but that is just so amazing to me. It is hard for me to even grasp at times! Such amazing grace!!

So then, why is it so hard for us to forgive at times? When a God so loving, continues to give more grace, to a people so undeserving? Let's remember this as we get back into our normal routines. Easter is over, but that doesn't mean what He has done for us, has to be forgotten. The next time we are faced with a situation where it might be hard to forgive, remember the grace that is given to us each and every day!